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PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

A  Romantic  Tragedy  in  Five  Acts 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 


A   ROMANTIC   TRAGEDY 
IN  FIVE  ACTS 


BY 
ARTHUR  SITGREAVES  MANN 


NEW  YORK 
THE   GRAFTON   PRESS 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  1906 
By  THE  GRAFTON  PRESS 


anfc 
(0.  JH.  C» 

The  seasons  come,  the  seasons  go, 
The  earth  is  green  OT  white  with  snow, 
But  time  and  change  can  naught  avail 
To  break  the  friendships  formed  at  Yale. 

CARM.  YALEN. 


KM  446 


DRAMATIS  PERSONJE 

KINO  WRATISLAS  OF  BOHEMIA. 

KING  BUDIMIR  OF  BULGARIA. 

PRINCE  Ivo,  Son  of  Wratislas. 

CONSTANT,  Friend  of  Ivo. 

DUKE  SIGISMUND,  Brother  of  Budimir. 

OTTOUAK  THE  BLACK,  Chieftain  of  the  Serbians. 

A  HOST. 

CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GUARD. 

LORDS  OF  THE  BULGARIAN  COURT. 

SERVANTS. 

PRINCESS  SEVNA,  Daughter  of  Budimir. 
KARA,  Daughter  of  Ottocar. 

ACT      I     Scene  1     The  gardens  of  the  palace  of  King  Wratislas. 

Scene  2    The  tower  of  Ottocar's  castle. 

Scene  3    An  inn, 

ACT    II    The  reception  hall  in  the  palace  of  King  Budimir. 
ACT  III    A  hall  in  the  palace  of  Duke  Sigismund. 
ACT  IV    Scene  1     The  tower  of  Ottocar's  castle. 

Scene  2    Hall  in  Duke  Sigismund 's  palace. 
ACT  III    A  turret  chamber  in  King  Budimir's  palace. 


Prince  Ivo  of  Bohemia 


ACT  I 

SCENE  1 

In  the  gardens  of  the  palace  of  King  Wratislas. 
Tfie  palace  stands  on  one  side  of  the  stage,  one  gray  stone  wing 
of  it  showing  through  the  trees  and  shrubbery.  In  the  center 
is  a  fountain,  alongside  of  which  two  young  men  are  seated, 
Prince  Ivo  on  the  grass  leaning  against  a  rock,  Constant  on  a 
bench  near  him.  Both  men  are  about  twenty-three  years  old. 
Ivo  is  slender,  more  active,  and  rather  more  handsome;  Con 
stant  has  a  more  powerful  frame,  and  his  face  is  more  serious 
and  thoughtful. 

Ivo 

Adventures,  Constant  ?  why,  the  world  is  dead, 
And  we  who  live  in  these  benighted  days 
May  never  hope  again  to  have  the  luck 
To  make  our  swords  dance  in  a  gallant  cause. 

Constant 

Indeed  it  is  a  weary,  useless  world. 
But  then,  my  lord,  remember  all  the  past; 
Young  as  we  are  we  have  not  lived  in  vain. 
Do  you  forget  the  day  the  Romagnese 


10  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Trapped  us  a-courting  just  within  their  lines, 
Two  men  to  five?     That  was  a  stirring  day. 

Ivo 

Ah,  Constant,  Constant,  little  did  I  think 
That  you  would  care  to  bring  that  back  to  mind. 
I  caught  a  glimpse  of  you  as  you  stood  there, 
Desperately  cornered,  all  your  face  in  knots, 
And  those  two  villains  just  about  to  end  you. 
Where  had  you  been  except  for  little  Rose  ? 
I'll  not  forget  how  she  upset  the  chair 
And  tripped  the  fellow  in  the  yellow  coat 
To  give  you  time  to  take  them  one  by  one. 

Constant 

But,  Ivo,  who  was  the  man  that  ran  away 
And  had  to  find  a  refuge  on  the  stairs 
Where  only  one  could  come  at  him  at  once, 
And  that  at  disadvantage  ?     By  the  saints, 
Those  Romagnese  were  braver  men  than  you. 

Ivo 

Enough,  I  yield,  but  there  were  other  times,  — 
It's  six  years  now  since  you  first  came  to  court, 
Six  years,  and  what  an  agelong  life  they've  been. 
We've  seen  each  other  through  many  a  narrow  place 
Since  those  first  hours ;  we've  shared  the  hunt,  the  camp, 
Stood  by  each  other's  side  when  swords  were  out, 
And  seen  both  sides  of  fortune.     Those  were  dark  days 
When  that  accursed  Hapsburg  brood  pressed  hard 
Our  little  kingdom.     O  that  fearful  night 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  11 

On  Unterbergen  field  when  all  seemed  lost, 

And  you  and  I  with  scarce  a  thousand  men, 

Weary  and  spent,  waited  for  break  of  day 

To  see  if  Klein  dorf  pass  had  been  cut  off 

And  we  surrounded !     Then  those  anxious  weeks 

When  we  were  on  the  run  like  mountain  goats, 

Until  at  last  the  Emperor  interposed 

And  the  peace  was  made  that  left  Bohemia  free. 

Constant 

And  yet  if  I  could  have  these  years  again, 
I'd  rather  take  those  weeks  among  the  rocks, 
When  every  moment  held  a  chance  of  death 
And  every  sword-stroke  meant  one  Austrian  gone, 
Than  all  the  rest  combined.     Oh,  that  was  life ! 

A  page  enters 
Page 

My  lord,  the  king  approaches. 

Ivo  Let  him  come. 

He's  a  good  father  to  me,  Constant,  though 
I  wish  he  were  not  quite  so  much  oppressed 
With  the  mighty  cares  of  vast  Bohemia. 
When  I  am  king,  I'll  wear  a  softer  crown. 

Constant 

I  warrant  you  will.     You'll  make  me  do  the  work. 

Ivo 

And  if  you  object,  to  the  deepest  keep  you  go. 


Wratislas 
My  son. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Enter  King  Wratislas 


Ivo  My  liege. 

Wratislas  Good  day  to  you,  my  lord. 

Constant 

Your  majesty,  may  Heaven  send  you  peace. 

Wratislas 

Ivo,  what  do  you  now  ?    Are  you  engaged 
On  any  pressing  matter? 

Ivo  Father,  no. 

Wratislas 

Then  I  would  ask  to  speak  with  you  a  while 
On  a  matter  deeply  touching  all  of  us. 
Have  you  thought  of  marriage  ? 

Ivo  Faith,  a  hundred  times. 

Wratislas 

Yes,  as  boys  will,  but  ever  seriously  ? 

Ivo 

It  seemed  so  at  the  time.     There's  Margaret 
To  whom  I  vowed  my  knightly  loyalty, 
And  Jeanne  of  France  who  nearly  broke  my  heart 
When  she  went  hence,  and  many  another  too. 
But,  father,  in  all  proper  earnestness, 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  13 

As  befits  a  matter  of  so  great  import, 

My  heart  is  free  and  my  princely  hand  unpledged, 

So  if  you  have  a  princess  to  my  taste 

I'll  be  obedient  and  do  your  will. 

Who  is  she  ? 

Wratislas          The  Princess  Sevna  of  Bulgaria. 
I  pray  you,  Ivo,  take  the  thing  to  heart. 
Our  brave  Bohemia  is  sore  beset 
On  every  side  by  grasping  jealous  foes, 
And  we  must  make  the  most  of  each  resource. 
Bulgaria's  interests  now  seem  knit  with  ours, 
And  to  make  the  alliance  firm  King  Budimir 
Doth  urge  this  marriage.     Then,  too,  the  girl  is  fair, 
And  fit  to  be  the  consort  of  a  king. 

Ivo 

Is  this  already  ripe  ?     Do  you  intend 
At  once  to  consummate  the  match  ?     I  like  it  not. 
I  thought  you  spoke  of  some  far-distant  plan, 
Not  thus  so  soon  to  end  my  liberty. 

Wratislas 

No,  Ivo,  time  is  precious.     We  must  haste 
In  all  we  seek  to  do. 

Ivo  Then  grant  a  space 

Of  quiet  for  me  to  consider  this. 

Wratislas 

The  thing  must  be,  yet  I'll  not  press  too  hard. 
One  month  I  grant  you  to  return  consent. 


14  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Ivo 

Father,  I  thank  you;  in  one  month  I'll  speak. 

Wratislas 

Then  fare  you  well,  I  know  you  will  not  fail. 
Adieu,  Lord  Constant 

Constant  Adieu,  your  majesty. 

Exit  King  Wratislas. 

Ivo 

The  Princess  Sevna  of  Bulgaria !  — 
Constant,  are  then  those  happy  days  to  end, 
When  we  were  errant  knights  and  every  maid 
Might  chance  to  prove  the  princess  of  the  tale, 
In  a  dull  flat  union  forged  by  statecraft  cold  ? 
One  more  adventure,  Constant,  ere  the  close! 
Let's  go  seek  out  the  fair  Bulgarian 
And  meet  her  once  with  plain  unblazoned  shield, 
As  man  to  maid,  and  see  what  then  results. 
My  heart  was  made  for  love  and  I'll  not  love 
This  easy  gift  of  shrewd  diplomacy. 
On  with  your  spurs,  my  boy,  we  ride  to-day 
To  win  a  bride  or  wreck  their  politics. 

Constant 

My  spurs  are  on,  my  lord.     You'll  never  find 
You  have  to  wait  for  me. 

Ivo  Your  hand  in  this. 

Conradin,  ho,  Conradin,  tell  the  king 
That  I  have  gone  up  to  the  hills  to  hunt; 


PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  15 

And  make  things  ready.     In  one  hour  we  leave. 

His  attendant  enters  at  the  call. 
Conradin 

'Tis  done,  my  lord. 

Ivo  Now,  Constant,  to  the  fray. 

Curtain 

SCENE  2 
Three  days  later. 

A  tower  on  the  castle  of  Ottocar  ilie  Black.  The  castle  stands 
on  an  elevation,  and  the  moonlight  shows  ragged  mountains 
on  every  side.  As  the  curtain  rises  Prince  Ivo  follows  Kara 
out  upon  the  tower. 

Kara 

Behold  the  realm  of  Ottocar  the  Black! 

A  few  wild  hills  and  rocky  river-beds, 

But  yet  my  country.     I  have  been  at  Rome, 

The  imperial  city  with  its  granite  walls 

And  marble  palaces,  and  yet  I  love 

Yon  living  rocks  that  the  running  waters  carve 

Into  fantastic  piles  and  strange  mosaics 

Better  than  all  the  wealth  of  chiseled  Rome. 

Ivo 

I  never  hoped  to  be  received  as  guest 
In  Ottocar' s  domains. 

Kara  I  know  your  thoughts. 

You  held  us  wilder  than  our  mountain  wolves 


16  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

That  sometimes  come  to  prey  on  your  rich  plains, 
And  like  them  to  be  hunted. 

jvo  Truth  to  tell, 

As  child  I  feared  the  name  of  Ottocar, 
The  desperate  chief  of  the  outlawed  Serbian  race. 

Kara 

And  yet  it  was  a  knightly  deed  of  yours 
To  grant  the  captive  maid  her  free  release. 
I  would  have  been  a  hostage  of  great  worth, 
To  guard  your  country  from  my  father's  raids, 
My  sullen  captor  seemed  a  trifle  vexed 
At  your  command  to  set  me  free  again. 

Ivo 

War  upon  women!    Bohemia's  officers 

Were  never  trained  to  that.     My  country's  honor 

Compelled  my  interference.     I  am  glad 

My  rank  bore  with  it  the  authority 

To  give  you  freedom. 

Kara  Noble  blood  is  yours, 

Did  you  not  say  ? 

lvo  Count  Ziska  is  my  name, 

And  my  lineage  lost  in  ages  far  remote. 
The  spray  of  southern  seas  is  in  our  blood, 
But  sweeter  than  the  music  of  the  waves 
We  found  the  gallop  of  a  horse's  hoofs, 
And  carried  far  our  conquests.     Now  we  rest, 
Seeking  to  hold  the  spoil  our  fathers  won. 


PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  17 

But  still  there  sometimes  comes  across  my  mind 

Like  voices  calling  from  the  distant  hills 

An  impulse  bidding  me  arise  and  go 

To  unknown  lands  where  unknown  dangers  wait 

And  deeds  are  worth  the  doing. 

Kara  Then  you  never  feel 

A  passionate  and  longing  love  for  home. 
Look !     See  that  darkened  mountain  chain  that  stands 
So  black  against  the  moonlight,  every  peak 
And  every  path  of  that  wild  range  I  know. 
I  have  sat  for  hours  by  one  waterfall 
And  looked  and  listened  there  until  my  heart 
Began  to  understand  the  mysteries 
That  lie  within  the  forest  and  the  glen. 
All  passion,  all  desire  fade  away; 
The  deep  tears  come,  and  the  waters  still  plunge  on, 
Until  I  turn  away  unfit  to  share 
In  nature's  calm  eternal  solitude. 
I  want  no  other  spot  on  earth  than  this, 
My  mountains  are  enough. 

Ivo  May  not  some  day 

A  lover  dare  to  claim  you  for  his  own, 
And  bear  you  far  away  from  these  stern  cliffs 
To  a  fairer,  richer  land  ? 

Kara  No  fairer  land 

Exists  for  me  than  this,  nor  ever  will. 

Ivo 

But  may  not  love  at  last  prove  conqueror  ? 


18  PRINCE   IVO   OE  BOHEMIA 

Will  you  not  love  so  deeply  that  your  heart 
Will  bid  you  leave  your  home  and  go  with  him 
With  whom  alone  you  can  find  happiness  ? 

Kara 

I  do  not  think  that  I  shall  ever  love. 
My  father  holds  my  fate,  I  look  to  him; 
And  I  shall  wed  some  stalwart  mountaineer 
Living  in  reckless  ease  upon  the  spoil 
He  gathers  from  your  rich  and  sluggish  plains. 
And  I  shall  still  be  free  to  wander  far 
Among  the  mountain  passes,  and  to  sit 
In  contemplation  by  my  waterfall. 

Ivo 

Then,  Kara,  dare  I  never  say,  I  love  you  ? 

Kara 

No,  never. 

Ivo  But  all  my  life  calls  out  to  you 

And  I  must  love  you, 

Kara  I  do  not  believe 

That  you  can  speak  with  passionate  intent. 
And  if  your  heart  is  now  alive  with  love, 
'Tis  but  the  passing  fancy  of  the  night 
Roused  by  the  wildness  of  our  mountain  home 
And  our  strange  meeting  here  beneath  the  stars. 

Ivo 

Oh,  but  the  very  strangeness  of  the  tale 
Bears  witness  that  it  shall  not  come  to  naught. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  19 

Kara 

I  dare  not  hear  you  speak.  —  My  lord !  'tis  late, 
And  therefore  I  must  bid  to  you  good  night. 
Come,  let  us  enter. 

Ivo  And  is  this  farewell  ? 

Kara 

No  longer  may  I  entertain  you  here, 
My  lord.     I  dare  not  face  my  father's  wrath, 
If  he  return  and  find  you  as  our  guest; 
You,  whom  he  rightly  holds  to  be  his  foe. 
For  though  you  deem  us  robbers,  yet  a  tale 
Of  cruelty  and  wrong  we  too  can  tell. 
Forget  this  day  and  turn  again  to  war, 
And  yet,  and  yet,  count  one  of  us  your  friend. 

Ivo 

Then  it  must  be  farewell,  yet  let  me  say 
That  I  will  not  forget. 

Kara  Let  us  go  in. 

Curtain 

SCENE  3 

The  next  evening. 

An  Inn.     Ivo  and  Constant  are  seated  at  a  table,  with  the  land 
lord  serving  them. 

Constant 

Here,  Ivo,  drink,  another  day's  march  done 
And  our  adventures  nearer.     Here's  to  good  luck ! 


20  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

Ivo 

Adventures  nearer!    Have  we  not  begun? 
To  enter  the  hold  of  Ottocar  the  Black 
And  stand  at  midnight  on  his  parapets 
With  his  fair  daughter,  is  not  that  enough? 

Constant 

That's  but  an  incident,  while  on  our  plan 
Of  meeting  Sevna  hangs  the  nation's  fate. 

Ivo 

Sevna,  the  princess,  how  I  hate  the  name! 
She  will  be  ugly,  fat,  and  slow  of  wit, 
Her  mind  all  set  on  courtly  etiquette, 
Not  like  my  mountain  hawk  of  yesterday. 

Constant 

They  say  she's  beautiful. 

Ivo  Of  course  they  do. 

And  so  have  I  been  called  most  erudite 
Because  I  could  decline  a  Latin  noun. 

Constant 

But  then  —  I'm  sure  I  know  her  type  —  she's  not 
One  of  those  limpid  uncompounded  minds 
That  has  never  felt  the  restless  interplay 
Of  many  struggling  motives.     Lady  Kara,  now, 
Has  walked  the  path  that  fate  has  marked  for  her, 
No  questions  cross  her  life  excepting  those 
Of  undiluted  right  and  wrong.     Find  out 
Her  two  or  three  main  traits  — 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  21 

Ivo  Now,  Constant,  hold! 

None  of  your  deep  analyses  to-night. 
Take  some  more  wine  and  you'll  feel  happier. 
If  you  had  been  in  my  place  on  the  tower, 
You  would  have  only  wished  to  hear  her  voice 
And  look  into  her  eyes.  —  She's  beautiful. 

Constant 

Beautiful,  yes,  I  grant  it;  little  more, 
However.  —  Do  you  know  the  road  from  here  ? 
Shall  we  have  rough  work  to-morrow? 

Ivo  I  think  not.  — 

I  wonder  when  we  two  will  meet  again. 
Can't  we  evade  old  Ottocar  some  day? 

Constant 

He'll  have  her  married  soon.  —  Is  your  horse  sound  ? 
I  saw  he  limped  a  bit. 

Ivo  I  fear  he  will 

On  our  return.     I'll  take  my  chances  there. 
I'd  like  to  face  the  wolf. 

Constant  I  think  you'd  get 

A  gentle  hint  you  were  not  welcome  there. 
Just  think  of  who  they  are. 

Ivo  You    frighten    me? 

I'd  go  to-night  to  take  a  challenge  up. 
Do  you  think  I  fear  this  Ottocar  the  Black  ? 
We'd  hurl  his  castle  into  his  ravines 
If  he  showed  treachery. 


22  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Constant  I  only  meant 

It's  wasted  time,  and  we  have  other  things 
To  do.     Remember  we  are  on  the  road 
To  seek  Bulgaria. 

Ivo  Confound  the  place. 

I  never  want  to  see  it.     I  must  see 
My  Lady  Kara  once  again.     I'll  go 
To-morrow,  Constant,  if  ten  Ottocars 
Should  bar  my  passage. 

Constant  But,  Prince  Ivo,  think  — 

Your  father  and  Bohemia;  this  is  no  time 
For  boyish  dreams. 

Ivo  Are  you  afraid  to  go  ? 

You  boasted  once  that  you  would  follow  me 
Into  any  danger;  show  your  courage  now. 

Constant 

Afraid!  you  have  no  right  to  say  that  word. 

I've  stood  ere  this  when  you  were  down,  and  held 

Our  foes  at  bay.     But  if  you  go  back  now, 

And  trust  your  freedom  to  a  robber's  mercy, 

To  see  this  girl  whom  you  can  never  have, 

When  your  country's  dearest  interests  are  at  stake, 

You  show  yourself  a  traitor  to  your  race. 

Ivo 

A  traitor!  take  that  back  or  never  call 
Me  friend. 


PRINCE   IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  23 

Constant        A  traitor  to  your  country,  prince, 
If  you  return. 

Ivo  starts  to  draw  his  sivord  from  the  scabbard.  Constant 
with  a  swift  movement  throws  aside  the  table,  hurls 
himself  forward  and  seizes  him  around  the  waist.  A 
fierce  struggle  follows,  both  go  down,  but  Constant  re 
tains  the  advantage  of  the  attack  and  soon  has  the 
prince  helpless  beneath  him.  Wresting  Ivo's  sword 
from  him  he  throws  it  across  the  room.  Then  he 
loosens  his  hold  and  rises.  Ivo  also  rises  slowly  and 
the  two  men  stand  silent  for  an  interval.  Constant 
maintains  a  look  of  resolute  composure,  while  Ivo  first 
looks  at  him  in  anger  and  then  lets  fall  his  eyes. 
The  silence  becomes  oppressive.  Then  the  landlord, 
who  had  left  abruptly  when  the  quarrel  began,  reap 
pears  with  wine.  He  speaks  to  Constant. 

Landlord 

There's  no  harm  done,  I  hope. 

Constant  relaxes  his  intense  expression  and  shakes  his  head. 
The  landlord  turns  to  Ivo. 

My  lord,  some  wine, 
'Twill  mend  a  quarrel  as  well  as  bring  it  on. 

Ivo 

Ah,  that  is  good.     Constant,  will  you  drink  too  ? 
Or  was  not  my  resistance  hard  enough 
To  rouse  your  thirst  ? 

Constant  I  think  our  host's  good  wine 

Will  not  go  begging  here.     Ivo,  I  give  a  health. 


24  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

The  Princess  Sevna  of  Bulgaria. 

Ivo  slowly  fills  a  glass  and  reluctantly  drinks. 
Ivo 

Bulgaria  it  is. 

Curtain 


ACT  II 

A  great  state  reception  and  revel  of  the  Bulgarian  court. 

Enter  King  Budimir  and  Princess  Sevna  and  take  seats  upon 
a  dais.     Nobles  in  succession  make  obeisance. 

1st  Lord 

My  sovereign  liege! 

King  Budimir  Welcome,  my  lord,  you're  not 

The  fool  I  thought  you  once. 

%d  Lord  Most  gracious   king! 

King  Budimir 

What,  knave,  do  you  dare  show  yourself  to  me? 
Did  I  not  bid  you  go  and  herd  your  swine  ? 

2d  Lord 

But,  sire,  — 

King  Budimir 

No  words,  go  get  you  hence !     I'll  have 
No  cunning,  smiling,  rotten  pander  here. 

Exit  %d  Lord  in  confusion. 
Herald 

Two  nobles  from  Bohemia  lately  come 
Would  see  your  majesty. 

25 


26  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

King  Budimir  Bid  them  approach. 

Herald  (announces) 

Count  Ziska  and  Count  Bors. 

Enter  Ivo  and  Constant 
Ivo  Your  majesty, 

May  heaven  send  you  victory  and  wealth. 

King  Budimir 

Welcome,  my  lords,  if  from  Bohemia 
You  come,  for  Wratislas  and  we  do  now 
Account  ourselves  as  brothers. 

Ivo  Sire,  we  come 

Bearers  of  letters  from  Prince  Ivo's  hand 
To  prove  our  friendship  to  Bulgaria. 

Ivo  presents  letter.     King  Budimir  takes  and  reads  it,  speak 
ing  to  himself. 

King  Budimir 

Hm !  "  Friends  of  Ivo,  traveling  gentlemen, 
Who  wish  to  see  the  world  and  prove  the  fame 
Of  other  realms,  and  first  Bulgaria." 

(Openly) 

I  see  your  prince  commends  you.     Has  that  boy 
Yet  calmed  the  madness  of  his  early  blood 
Enough  to  deal  in  high  affairs  of  state, 
Or  is  he  still  expert  in  lady's  bower 
And  court  buffoon  within  the  council  room? 

Constant 

My  lord,  Prince  Ivo  shows  in  time  of  peace 
The  same  staunch  heart  as  on  the  battle-field. 


PRINCE   1VO   OF  BOHEMIA  27 

King  Budimir 

A  knave  can  fight,  it  needs  a  king  to  rule. 

But  that  the  boy  has  noble  qualities 

I'll  not  deny.     Had  he  his  father's  wit 

Bohemia  were  happy.     But  the  dance! 

Young  men  will  turn  to  follow  butterflies 

When  kingdoms  crash  around  them.     Will  it  please 

You  then  to  share  our  folly  here,  my  lords  ? 

Daughter,  two  nobles  from  Bohemia 

Whose  presence  honors  our  unworthy  court. 

My  lords,  the  Princess  Sevna,  our  fair  child. 

Has  Bohemia  her  equal?     Daughter,  go, 

And  tread  a  measure  with  these  stranger  knights. 

Constant  forces  Ivo  forward,  and  the  latter  leads  out  the 

princess  without  speaking. 
Sevna 

My  lord,  we  make  you  welcome  to  our  court. 

Ivo  (indifferently] 

My  thanks,  fair  princess,  I  have  long  desired 
To  see  your  land. 
(A  pause) 

Sevna  And  does  it  please  you  now? 

Ivo 

You  have  a  fertile  country,  but  the  plains 
Did  never  hold  my  fancy  like  the  hills. 

Sevna 

Mountains  for  hunters !     The  plains  for  nobler  men 


28  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Who  know  the  wisdom  of  the  ancient  dead 
And  build  upon  it. 

Ivo  The  wisdom  of  your  books, 

The  deep,  dry  digging  of  philosophers, 
Is  not  worth  one  free  hour  of  mountain  air. 

Sevna 

You  seek  the  body's  freedom,  not  the  soul's; 
You  climb  high  peaks,  but  we  draw  nearer  God 
Who  seek  Him  on  the  heights  of  life  and  thought 
Than  you  who  draw  full  breath  and  eat  and  sleep 
And  find  no  gain  beyond  the  hour's  thrill. 

Ivo 

You  study  life,  but  it  is  we  who  live. 

The  dance  now  begins.     When  it  is  ended,  they  renew  their 
conversation. 

Ivo 

Like  you  thinks  also  my  friend  here,  when  fall'n 
In  meditative  mood,  or  when  some  blow 
Upsets  his  hopes,  but  let  him  have  a  horse, 
Fair  field,  no  favor,  and  a  better  man 
Never  set  merrily  to  join  a  fray. 

Sevna 

He  knows  both  how  to  dream  and  act  ?     Ah,  then 
He  drinks  life  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  cup. 
We,  pent  inactive,  miss  the  thrill  and  sting, 
You,  with  your  action,  miss  the  deeper  sight. 
If  he  grasp  both,  that  were  a  perfect  life. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  29 

Ivo 

Ah,  princess,  I  have  journeyed  by  his  side 

Through  many  a  fateful  year,  and  I  can  say 

No  deeper,  truer  comrade  ever  breathed; 

No  man  of  keener  insight,  stronger  love, 

And  nobler  heart,  than  he  who  yonder  stands. 

I  am  a  man  whom  fortune  should  have  made 

A  wandering  trooper,  free  to  come  and  go, 

Who  could  live  and  laugh  and  play  the  fool  and  die, 

With  never  a  soul  to  care  the  lightest  straw, 

Except  perhaps  some  one  or  two  who  loved  me; 

But  fate  in  her  caprice  - 

He  stops,  there  is  a  pause,  and  then  Ivo  says: 

Shall  we  return  ? 
Sevna 

Think  you  your  friend  would  dance?     Such  merit  rare 

Would  well  be  worth  the  knowing. 

Ivo  (with  deep  respect.  He  has  been  much  impressed  by  the 
conversation,  though  it  is  evident  that  he  and  the  princess 
could  never  stir  each  other's  deepest  feelings) 

Greater  honor 
Could,  princess,  not  be  his  nor  any  man's. 

Sevna 

My  thanks,  my  lord. 

They  return  to  the  dais,  where  Constant  stands  in  earnest 
conversation  with  King  Budimir. 

King  Budimir 

What,  ended  ?     Daughter,  come  and  rest. 


30  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Sevna  Ah,  no, 

The  music  and  the  passion  of  the  dance 
Are  in  my  blood  and  now  I  cannot  cease. 

Budimir 

Then  as  you  wish  it.     Sir,  I  find  your  talk 
On  matters  of  the  day  to  have  some  worth. 
But  since  my  daughter  would  not  end  the  dance, 
And  in  her  woman's  world  her  will  is  law, 
We'll  adjourn  our  converse  to  another  time, 
While  you  twain  go  and  test  each  other's  skill. 
Constant  and  Sevna  bow  and  he  leads  her  out. 
After  the  dance,  Ivo  and  King  Budimir  being  engaged  in 

conversation,    which   has   drawn   in   the   surrounding 

nobles,  they  go  aside  to  talk. 

Sevna 

How  did  you  soften  my  stern  father's  heart 
So  as  to  gain  his  praise  ?     A  word  unmixed 
With  scorn  or  anger  never  leaves  his  lips, 
Save  when  he  speaks  to  me.     I  tell  you  this, 
That  in  the  future  you  may  hold  your  guard. 

Constant 

Your  father's  biting  tongue  was  known  to  me, 

But  that  he  is  a  ruler  of  great  weight, 

A  skilful  soldier,  a  most  dangerous  foe, 

And  an  ally  of  inestimable  worth 

Has  also  reached  my  knowledge.     So  my  hopes 

Are  set  on  closer  friendship  'twixt  your  land 

And  our  Bohemia;  for  we  are  pressed 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  31 

By  many  jealous  foes,  as  also  you, 

And  only  by  this  compact  both  our  states 

Can  face  unshaken  all  hostility. 

Sevna 

Your  words  are  wise,  but  yet,  —  I  somehow  fear, 

I  may  not  tell  just  why,  this  planning  shrewd 

Of  ministers  and  diplomats  and  kings 

Expects  to  use  some  pieces  in  the  game 

Which  will  not  willingly  be  moved.     But  after  all 

Are  we  not  pieces  in  the  hands  of  fate, 

Moved  helplessly  from  square  to  square  of  life, 

Whether  we  struggle  fiercely,  or  submit 

As  best  we  can  to  the  will  that  governs  us  ? 

Tell  me,  my  lord,  what  you  think;  for  I  here 

Am  gently  coaxed  to  this  and  forced  to  that, 

Perform  my  father's  bidding,  bow  myself 

Before  the  sage  advice  of  counselors, 

Find  my  friends  chosen,  all  my  life  mapped  out 

By  others,  until  at  last  I  grow  to  doubt 

Whether  a  spark  of  freedom  is  my  own. 

And  yet  if  I  say  that,  within  me  cries 

A  voice  imperious,  which  will  not  rest, 

Asserting  that  my  soul  is  lord  and  free. 

Which  seems  the  truth,  freedom  or  slavery  ? 

Constant 

Man's  life  is  of  two  parts.     He  finds  himself 
Born  to  a  world  which  he  did  not  create; 
His  parents,  rank,  and  state  are  not  his  choice, 
Nor  yet  that  quality  of  natural  worth 


32  PRINCE  WO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Which  makes  him  hero,  weakling,  genius,  dolt, 

And  as  he  treads  the  path  of  daily  life 

A  thousand  haps  and  mishaps  shape  his  fate, 

Which  he  could  never  alter  nor  foresee. 

Some  stroke  of  fortune  raises  one  to  wealth, 

Another  by  sheer  accident  is  maimed, 

And  all  his  life  is  blasted.     Wherefore  then 

Befret  ourselves  about  that  outward  world, 

The  destiny  which  we  cannot  control  ? 

Life  brings  us  happiness  — let  us  be  glad; 

It  brings  us  sorrow  —  let  us  show  ourselves 

Strong  to  endure  the  burden  of  our  pains, 

For  fortitude  alone  can  conquer  them, 

Not  moaning,  nor  complaint,  nor  futile  kicks. 

Such  is  one  part  of  life.     The  other  lies 

Not  in  the  play  of  outward  circumstance, 

But  in  that  realm  of  inner  life  in  which 

Man's  will  is  regal.     Like  yours,  my  heart  cries  out : 

Mine  honor  and  dishonor  are  mine  own 

To  choose,  and  not  another  for  me.     Thus, 

As  on  life's  road  I  travel,  all  fate's  gifts 

And  blows  I  strive  to  take  with  even  mind; 

Nor  wild  with  joy,  nor  overcome  by  pain. 

My  only  effort,  to  lead  such  a  life 

That,  were  its  inmost  secrets  shown  to  one 

Of  unstained,  radiant  honor,  I  would  dare 

To  look  him  in  the  face.     God  knows  I've  sinned, 

But  thro'  weakness,  not  thro'  baseness,  and  my  quest 

Shall  ever  be  to  make  my  weakness  strong. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  33 

Sevna 

You  seem  to  make  things  clear  that  puzzled  me. 

But  you  are  strong,  your  right  hand  hews  its  way 

Straight  thro'  the  thick  of  stern  adversities, 

You  are  not  hemmed  in,  baffled,  made  a  child 

At  others'  service.     Oh,  that  I  were  free 

To  lead  my  life,  to  follow  out  my  dreams! 

For  sometimes  when  I  steal  a  quiet  hour 

To  muse  upon  the  pages  of  my  books 

(But  oh,  I  have  so  few)  there  comes  a  gleam 

From  an  unknown  world  I  fain  would  penetrate, 

A  world  of  mystic  beauty,  whose  fair  shapes 

And  strains  of  music  and  echoes  of  high  thoughts 

Linger  a  moment  in  my  wistful  mind 

And  then  depart.     But  when  I  would  return 

To  cross  the  boundary  of  that  other  land 

There  comes  the  hunt,  the  dance,  the  weary  round 

Of  courtly  etiquette,  and  I  must  talk 

And  try  to  please  and  wear  a  smiling  face, 

Barred  from  the  land  whose  sights  I  hunger  for. 

Constant 

I  think  I  understand  you,  and  I  feel 
How  hard  a  life  must  be  when  the  spirit  seeks 
True  comradeship,  true  sympathy,  and  finds 
Only  the  husks  and  shells  of  social  life. 

Sevna 

Yes,  husks  and  shells,  that's  what  they  feed  me  on. 
And  now  to  crown  their  work  I  hear  they  plan 
To  sell  me,  soul  and  body,  that  they  may 


34  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Build  higher  their  ambition,  gather  more 
Of  husks  and  shells  for  all  of  us  to  eat. 
In  short  they  soon  will  seek  to  make  me  wed 
A  man  who  cares  for  nothing  but  his  horse, 
His  wine,  his  — 

Constant  My  lady,  stop,  you  know  not  what 

You  speak. 

Sevna  Will  you  too  then  refuse  to  hear  ? 

I  know  I  should  not  speak,  but  here  I  have 
Not  a  single  friend  to  whom  I  dare  to  talk, 
And  in  your  face  I  read  a  sympathy 
Which  I  have  rarely  known. 

Constant  (aside)  Perhaps  our  hope 

Lies  in  my  winning  her  to  Ivo's  side. 

(Openly) 

My  lady,  mayhap  you  have  wrongly  read 
The  character  of  him  of  whom  you  speak. 
False  rumors  often  reach  us,  and  the  truth 
May  contradict  your  fears. 

Sevna  It  cannot  be. 

I'm  not  deceived,  this  wastrel  prince's  fame 
Has  come  to  me  from  many  trusted  lips, 
And,  even  though  he  be  not  wholly  brute, 
Savage  and  swinish,  yet  he  is  not  one 
To  break  my  bonds  of  bitter  servitude. 
Oh,  I  have  dreamed,  in  the  way  a  man  knows  not, 
Of  one  who  comes  to  set  me  free  at  last, 
The  sunlight  on  his  armor  and  his  face 


PRINCE  IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  35 

Imperishably  stamped  as  one  of  those 
That  read  the  mysteries  of  life  and  death. 
And  to  be  given  to  this  animal ! 
How  will  my  heart  endure? 

Constant  I  will  be  bold 

If  you  will  suffer  me  this  liberty. 
It  is  Prince  Ivo  of  Bohemia 
Of  whom  you  speak  ? 

Sevna  None  other. 

Constant  Then  you  wrong 

The  noblest  gentleman  that  ever  drew 
His  sword  for  honor,  home,  and  liberty. 

Sevna 

I  had  forgot  he  was  your  countryman. 

I  beg  forgiveness;  it  may  be  the  heat 

Of  many  a  former  grievance  roused  my  heart 

To  utter  wrords  unseemly. 

Constant  It  is  not 

You,  but  false  tongues  that  I  would  challenge  here. 
You  have  not  seen  him  ? 

Sevna  No. 

Constant  Then  take  my  word 

As  of  one  who  in  the  battle  and  the  camp, 
In  sore  distress  and  flush  of  victory, 
Has  followed  Ivo's  fortunes,  and  not  yet 
Has  seen  him  wrong  another,  crush  the  weak, 


36  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Humiliate  the  fallen,  or  show  aught 

Except  the  bearing  of  a  gallant  knight. 

The  spirit  of  the  South  is  in  his  heart, 

High  hopes,  deep  tenderness,  impassioned  life. 

And  the  luring  charm  of  wooded,  sun -kissed  hills. 

My  lady,  never  has  love  better  worth 

The  winning  called  for  answering  love  than  his. 

Sevna 

'Twill  call  in  vain  if  it  seeks  an  answer  here. 

He  could  not  touch  my  heart.     At  best  he  were 

Such  as  your  comrade  here,  —  who  might  deserve 

The  praise  which  you  have  lavished  on  your  prince,  — 

The  very  image  of  a  perfect  knight 

And  yet  without  that  vision  in  his  soul 

Which  brings  the  larger  light,  and  that  I  seek. 

You  pardon  me  ?     My  speech  is  very  bold, 

But  just  to-day  it  chanced  that  stroke  on  stroke 

Has  fallen  on  me,  stinging  maddeningly, 

And  to-night  I  care  not.     Should  it  wreck  the  world 

Yet  I  must  speak.     I  can  trust  you,  can  I  not  ? 

Constant 

My  lady,  to  the  death. 

Sevna  And  you'll  forgive 

What  I  have  said,  my  rancor  toward  your  prince, 

And  my  judgment  of  your  friend,  and  you'll  forget 

The  unmeant  words  I  spoke  against  my  home. 

And  if  I  must  accept  the  fate  they  plan, 

You'll  sometimes  see  me  and  help  me  with  such  thoughts 


PRINCE  IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  37 

As  you  have  done  to-night  ?     I  shall  be  glad 
To  think  that  you  are  from  Bohemia. 

Constant 

My  lady,  O  that  I  could  bring  to  you 

The  freedom  you  thirst  for!     O  if  I  could  clear 

Your  pathway  to  the  land  you  long  to  see! 

If  I  could  dash  all  obstacles  aside! 

For  never  have  I  heard  a  voice  that  called 

My  spirit  to  eager  service,  like  yours  to-night. 

For  life,  for  death,  count  on  my  life  as  yours. 

Can  I  do  nothing  ? 

Sevna  Stop,  say  not  too  much. 

Constant 

I  also  serve  my  prince  in  serving  you. 

Sevna 

It  is  not  Ivo  that  can  set  me  free. 

Constant 
But  it  must  be;  princess,  you  must  be  his. 

Sevna 

No,  never.     God,  what  will  the  future  be  ? 

She  turns  away  and  lets  fall  her  head  upon  her  arms.  Sud 
denly  she  straightens  herself  in  complete  self-possession, 
cold  as  a  statue. 

My  lord,  perhaps  they  wait  our  coming,  so 
Let  us  attend  the  king. 

They  return  and  find  Ivo  and  King  Budimir  in  angry  dis- 


38  PRINCE   IVO   OF   BOHEMIA 

cussicm.  A  group  has  been  fanned  into  which  Constant 
and  Sevna  slip  without  being  noticed.  Both  contest 
ants  arc  completely  beside  themselves  with  rage. 

Ivo  (sneeringly)  And  so  you  plan 

To  make  alliance  'twixt  your  state  and  ours  ? 

King  Budimir 

I  plan!  why,  boy,  that  old  fool  Wratislas 
Fell  on  his  knees  to  beg  some  aid  from  us. 
Such  whining,  pitiful  letters  I've  not  read 
As  those  he  wrote  us,  of  Bohemia  lost 
Unless  we  helped  him,  savage  foes  which  he 
Alone  could  not  resist,  and  all  such  talk. 
And  it  is  true.     Why,  if  I  stir  my  hand, 
It's  time  for  you  to  go  and  choose  your  graves. 

Ivo 

When  Wratislas  went  on  his  knees  to  you 
It  must  have  been  the  day  that  he  was  told 
By  his  confessor  to  abase  himself 
By  doing  reverence  to  his  inferiors. 

King  Budimir 

What,  in  my  court  ?     Do  you  dare  mock  me  here  ? 
By  Heaven,  beware. 

Ivo  And  then,  what  you  just  said, 

This  marriage,  —  I  expect  to  hear  you  tell 
How  Wratislas  and  Ivo  came  like  dogs 
Seeking  a  bone,  to  ask  your  daughter's  hand. 


PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  39 

King  Budimir 

The  shame  is  mine  that  I  could  ever  dream 

Of  wedding  my  daughter  to  that  base-born  wretch. 

Ivo 

And  how  did  Ivo  ask  ?  did  he  too  beg 
And  fawn  upon  your  knees  ? 

King  Budimir  A  dog  were  proud 

Compared  to  him. 

Ivo  So  then  he  really  asked 

That  he  might  marry  her? 

King  Budimir  Heaven's  curses,  yes. 

Ivo 

Then  let  me  tell  you  to  your  lying  face 

That  Ivo  of  Bohemia  would  not  take 

Your  daughter  as  his  wife  were  he  to  die 

A  million  deaths,  and  Bohemia  sink  to  Hell. 

He  catches  sight  of  Sevna  and  bows  slightly  toward  her. 

Not  because  she  is  other  than  divine, 

But  because  she  is  your  daughter. 
Lord  (breaking  in  and  catching  the  king's  arm) 

Sire,  cease. 

Why  heed  this  madman  ?     How  can  his  words  have  weight  ? 

Ivo 

Fool,  I  am  Ivo  of  Bohemia. 

He  draws  himself  up  to  his  full  height  and  gazes  defiantly 
at  the  king.  A  moment's  silence,  then  wild  contusion 
and  cries  of  "  Treachery,"  "  The  guards,"  "  Seize  him." 


40  PRINCE  IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

A  rush  is  made  at  Ivo,  he  is  half  knocked  down  and 
dragged  off.  Sevna,  who  has  all  this  time  been  clinging 
heavily  to  Constant,  preventing  him  from  action,  falls 
half  fainting  in  his  arms.  A  motion  is  made  at  Con 
stant,  but  he  draws  his  sword  with  one  free  arm  and 
waves  his  assailants  back. 

Sevna 

Have  all  things  ended  ?     Has  the  world  gone  mad  ? 

Constant 

The  world  may  end  to-night,  but  you  and  I 
Have  found  each  other. 

Curtain 


ACT  III 

The  palace  of  Duke  Sigismund.  A  large  hall,  splendidly  fur 
nished  and  ornamented  with  weapons  and  antlers.  At  one 
end  of  it  there  is  a  fireplace  and  a  bright  fire  of  logs. 

Time,  the  next  morning. 

Sigismund,  Constant. 
Constant 

So  then,  my  lord,  to  end  the  sorry  tale,  - 

Prince  Ivo  losing  all  his  self-control 

And  the  king  perhaps  still  more  beside  himself, 

They  gave  their  tongues  the  rein  and  charged  each  other 

In  full  career,  and  in  faith  the  king  was  not 

The  one  that  got  the  better  of  the  tilt. 

How  Ivo  let  him  have  it !    So  I  doubt 

If  less  than  blood  will  soothe  the  angry  king; 

And  now  he  has  Prince  Ivo  in  his  hands 

I  tremble  lest  he  may  at  once  resolve 

To  take  a  prompt  and  summary  revenge. 

O  how  could  Ivo  ever  have  been  so  mad 

As  to  brave  the  king  in  his  insensate  way 

And  bring  this  useless  peril  on  himself? 

Sigismund 

A  most  strange  passion,  anger !     How  blind  are  men 
To  let  the  devil  thus  make  of  them  his  fools, 
And  for  the  sake  of  uttering  one  hot  word 

41 


42  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

Press  forward  to  inevitable  wreck, 
As  they  do  daily!     But  how  ended  this  affair? 
The  king  has  Ivo  fast,  and  you  yourself, 
Tell  me  how  you  came  hither. 

Constant  My  good  lord, 

At  Ivo's  last  wild  words  those  standing  by 
Fearing  some  act  of  violence  seized  upon  him, 
And  at  the  king's  command  he  was  placed  in  guard 
Until  to-day,  when  this  affair's  conclusion 
Should  be  determined.     As  for  me  myself, 
I  had,  before  this  strife  of  theirs  began, 
With  Princess  Sevna  drawn  apart  awhile 
For  conversation,  and  then  as  we  returned 
We  found  them  at  their  fury's  height;  so  thus 
I  had  no  part  whether  for  good  or  ill 
In  this  sad  matter.     Then  when  all  was  over 
The  Princess  Sevna  bade  me  come  with  her 
And  seek  with  you  a  refuge. 

Sigismund  Sevna  then 

It  was  that  brought  you  hither  ? 

Constant  Yes,  she  said 

That  at  this  time  it  chanced  that  she  herself 
Was  guest  of  yours  and  hence  could  gain  for  me 
An  entrance  to  your  halls :  so  we  forthwith 
Came  hither  and  through  her  kind  offices 
I  found  last  night  an  entertainment  here. 
My  lord,  I  have  been  forward  thus  to  thrust 
Myself  within  strange  walls,  but  I  urge  only 


PRINCE   1VO   OF  BOHEMIA  43 

The  Princess'  bidding,  and  I  beg  your  grace 
To  hold  me  as  a  friend  and  not  a  spy. 

Sigismund 

My  lord,  since  Princess  Sevna  brings  you  here 

You  are  most  welcome,  and  all  that  our  poor  house 

Can  offer,  count  as  yours.     She  is  my  niece, 

As  you  may  have  learned  ere  this,  and  my  daughter  too, 

For  as  oft  as  she  can  steal  away  from  court 

She  comes  to  cheer  an  old  man's  loneliness. 

I  am  not  one  that  seeks  to  play  a  part 

In  the  affairs  of  nations,  and  from  Budimir 

I  would  rather  ask  his  daughter's  company 

Than  all  his  royalty.     She,  too,  I  think, 

Is  not  averse  to  a  quieter  retreat 

Than  the  court  affords  her;  therefore  in  my  house 

She  is  the  mistress  and  her  guests  are  mine. 

Constant 

My  lord,  to  you  and  her  my  thanks  are  due, 

Nor  can  I  soon  forget  your  kindness  here. 

For  now  I  stand  at  such  a  desperate  pitch 

Of  fate,  that  to  the  utmost  I  must  strain 

Each  chance  of  friendship  that  may  present  itself. 

Prince  Ivo  lies  in  mortal  danger.     You 

Are  the  king's  own  brother.     I  beseech  you  then 

To  go  to  him  and  by  your  influence 

Save  Ivo  and  avert  the  threatening  clash. 

I  have  little  claim  upon  you,  —  that  I  know,  — 

But  yet  because  of  both  our  countries'  sake 

I  implore  you  now  to  do  this  deed  of  peace. 


44  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Sigismund 

Nay,  there  you  ask  too  much.     You  are  welcome  here 

For  Princess  Sevna's  sake,  and  for  your  own. 

But  from  such  tangled  points  as  these  you  tell 

I  long  ago  resolved  to  hold  aloof. 

King  Budimir  is  jealous,  and  should  I 

Try  to  direct  his  actions,  there  would  be, 

Even  though  we  are  brothers,  bitter  strife. 

He  tolerates  no  rival,  I  alone 

In  all  the  kingdom  am  free  to  go  my  way 

Without  his  interference:  I  alone 

Can  promise  you  to  keep  inviolate 

The  honor  due  you  as  a  guest.     But  if 

I  once  began  to  touch  the  king's  affairs 

Our  concord  soon  would  end.     So  I  cannot, 

Even  for  this  cause,  pass  outside  my  sphere, 

And  enter  Budimir's. 

Constant  Then  what  is  left 

For  me  to  do  ? 

Sigismund  I  can  advise  you  naught. 

Enter  a  servant 

Servant 

My  lord,  Prince  Ivo  of  Bohemia, 

Escorted  by  a  troop  of  horse,  has  come 

And  asks  to  see  you  and  your  guest  Lord  Constant. 

Constant 

Thank  God,  then  Ivo's  safe. 

Sigismund  Bid  him  come  in. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  45 

Enter  Ivo 
Prince  Ivo,  welcome. 

Ivo  My  thanks,  Duke  Sigismund. 

Constant 

Ivo,  how  is  it  ?     How  do  matters  stand  ? 
You've  ended  the  dispute  ?     Ah,  but  I'm  glad 
To  see  you. 

Ivo  Ended?     Yes,  ended  just  as  much 

As  the  devil  himself  is  ended.     What  a  fool, 
O  Constant,  what  a  fool  I  was ! 

Constant  But,  Ivo, 

You're  safe,  you're  free  ? 

Ivo  Yes,  safe,  but  what  a  cost! 

O  father,  how  can  I  look  on  you  again  ? 
They'd  better  have  killed  me. 

Sigismund  Then,  my  lord  prince,  the  king 

Retains  his  anger? 

Ivo  Increased  a  thousand-fold, 

They  say,  who  know  him  best,  a  black,  hard  hate 
That  never  will  relent. 

Sigismund  But  yet  he  spares 

To  strike  you  ? 

Ivo  Yes,  but  just  that  he  may  take 

A  fiercer  vengeance.     O  my  native  land ! 


46  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Constant 

But,  prince,  you  see  things  in  too  dark  a  light. 
Hope's  not  dead  yet.     You  were  always  at  extremes 
Whether  of  joy  or  fear.     Now  that  the  king 
Has  failed  to  act  in  his  first  burst  of  wrath 
His  passion  soon  will  moderate  itself. 
To-day  was  what  I  feared. 

Sigismund  What  are  his  threats? 

Ivo 

War,  bitter  war,  until  Bohemia 

From  among  her  smoking  towns  shall  curse  the  day 

She  e'er  gave  Ivo  birth. 

Constant  And  if  it's  war 

Why  should  Bulgaria  be  so  sure  to  win  ? 
Shame,  Ivo!     Call  your  courage  back  again. 
It's  not  like  you  to  quail  before  a  foe. 

Ivo 

For  this  sad  struggle  I  have  little  heart, 

If,  as  of  old,  I  girded  on  my  sword 

Clean-hearted,  fighting  in  a  worthy  cause, 

I'd  go  to  war  as  quick  as  to  a  feast, 

But  now  (half  drawing  his  sword)  her  edge  is  blunted. 

Sigismund  My  lord  prince, 

I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  such  evil  news. 
And  I  hope  that  neither  for  your  state  nor  ours 
Such  troubles  may  occur. 


PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  47 

Constant  My  lord,  indeed 

When  things  go  heavily  the  prince  is  like 
To  see  them  at  their  worst.     Another  day 
May  change  this  matter's  looks.     But,  Ivo,  now 
What  are  your  purposes  ? 

Ivo  They're  fixed  for  me. 

King  Budimir  this  morning  called  me  forth, 
And  in  few  words  this  business  was  despatched.  — 
Within  the  day  a  troop  of  cavalry 
Would  see  me  to  the  frontier,  then  —  red  war. 
I  asked  for  you,  an  inquiry  was  made. 
They  named  the  duke;  the  king  then  sent  me  here 
To  take  you  with  me.     And  let  us  not  delay. 

Constant 

At  once  ?  to  leave  the  country  ? 

Ivo  Ay,  you'd  not 

Expect  a  further  entertainment,  would  you  ? 

Constant 

But,  Ivo,  let  me  think.     I  have  made  plans. 
This  war,  we  must  prevent  it,  calm  the  king, 
Find  friends,  bring  influence  - 

Ivo  And  who,  I  pray, 

Is  strong  enough  to  tame  this  maddened  king  ? 
Where  are  your  friends  ? 

Constant  Duke  Sigismund  — 

Sigismund  No,  no. 

I  cannot  interfere. 


48  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Ivo  Who  else? 

Constant  Well,  then,  - 

If  you,  my  lord,  will  pardon,  —  I  hope  to  see 
The  Princess  Sevna  and  secure  her  promise 
To  try  to  move  the  king. 

Ivo  You're  right,  in  that 

There  is  a  chance. 

Constant  (to  Sigismund)     My  lord,  do  you  consent 
To  this? 

Sigismund 

It  seems  an  honorable  course. 
Shall  I  call  the  princess  ? 

Constant  Sir,  'tis  what  we  wish. 

Sigismund  (striking  his  hands  together  and  speaking  to  servant 

who  enters) 
Request  the  Princess  Sevna's  presence  here. 

There  is  an  interval.     Ivo  stands  moodily  with  head  cast 

down,,  while  Constant  in  restlessness  walks  to  and  fro. 
Sevna  enters  nervous  and  apprehensive,  and  with  her  face 
showing  marks  of  sleeplessness.     All  bow.     Sevna  turns 
away  from  Ivo  and  Constant  and  goes  to  the  duke,  who 
kisses  her  on  the  forehead. 

Sevna 

You  summoned  me? 

Sigismund  Yes,  Sevna,  the  affair 

Of  yesternight  has  proved  most  difficult. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  49 

And  in  hopes  that  you  may  help  to  knit  it  up 
These  gentlemen  have  asked  a  word  with  you. 

Sevna     (turning  to  them  with  dignity) 

Sirs,  I  can  do  nothing,  but  I  pray  for  peace, 

And  gladly  I  would  help  you  if  I  could. 

What  do  you  ask  ?     How  stands  the  matter  now  ? 

Constant 

My  lady,  the  king's  anger  waxes  high. 

Ivo  is  free,  but  only  on  the  terms 

That  he  shall  cross  the  frontier  ere  the  night. 

And  then  King  Budimir  will  march  to  take 

In  pitiless  war  his  vengeance  on  our  land. 

We  beg  of  you  then  to  implore  the  king 

To  restrain  his  passion.     Promise  anything 

From  us.     Point  out  the  evils  it  must  bring 

On  your  own  land,  if  to  her  ally  she 

Turn  enemy.     Remember  Austria, 

The  Huns,  our  foes  on  every  side.     This  league 

Of  ours  must  not  be  broken.     You  will  undertake 

This  mission,  stop  the  war,  O  will  you  not? 

Sevna 

It  seems  a  little  thing  to  promise  you 

That  I  will  intercede ;  but  yet  'tis  more 

Than  you  imagine.     Once  before  I  tried 

To  save  a  friend  who  had  crossed  the  king,  and  oh, 

His  wrath  was  terrible.     I  dare  not  strain 

His  love  for  me  so  far. 

Constant  But  think,  the  stakes! 


50  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

Two  kingdoms'  fortunes  hang  upon  the  cast; 
And  you  alone  are  left  to  turn  their  fate. 

Sevna 

But  even  should  I  strive  with  all  my  might 
My  voice  is  useless.     I  know  he  will  not  hear. 

Constant  (low  and  pleadingly) 

Must  you  and  I  then  be  each  other's  foes  ? 
Must  I  draw  sword  against  your  native  land  ? 
Must  we  forget  last  night,  and  let  our  hopes 
Perish  amid  the  blood  and  hate  of  war  ? 
Will  you  let  me  ride  away,  and  wreck  forever 
The  happiness  which  last  night  seemed  so  near  ? 

Sevna 

It  is  not  fair  of  you  to  urge  me  thus. 
You  know  that  what  I  can  do  shall  be  done. 
But  if  you  take  it  a  favor  to  yourself, 
My  lord,  you  greatly  err. 

Constant  (turning  to  the  others  with  a  quiet  note  of  triumph) 

She  gives  consent. 
So  Ivo,  let  us  hope. 

Small  hope,  I  fear. 


SigisYmund 

When,  Sevna,  will  you  go  ? 

Sevna  Till  afternoon 

No  chance  of  audience. 
jvo  Then,  Constant,  come. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  51 

I  passed  my  word  that  I'd  not  linger  here, 
And  I  am  choking  in  this  cursed  land. 

Constant 

But,  Ivo,  were  it  not  better  I  should  wait 

And  see  the  matter  through  ?     If  aught  results 

You'll  need  an  envoy  here. 

Ivo  What,    Constant,    stay? 

Constant 

It  would  be  better.     We'll  need  to  follow  up 
Any  advantage  gained. 

Ivo  Let  me  go  home 

To  fight  and  you  stay  here  ? 

Constant  Within  a  day 

I'll  follow  if  it's  war.     You  know  the  king: 
And  even  if  the  princess  should  succeed, 
Would  he  send  us  an  embassy  to  say 
We'll  swallow  down  your  words  ?     No,  I  must  wait 
To  treat  between  us  and  see  that  you  return 
To  make  apology. 

Ivo  You  must  come  now. 

I  cannot  go  alone  to  face  my  father. 

Constant 

I  appeal  to  Princess  Sevna's  judgment  here. 
My  lady,  were  it  better  I  return 
Or  stay  to  serve  in  this  affair  ? 

Sevna  My  lords, 


52  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

Since  you  have  asked  me,  I  shall  be  most  glad 
As  best  I  can  to  pacify  the  king. 
But  alone,  without  support  or  help  from  you, 
I  cannot  dream  of  acting. 

Ivo  Then  you  have  won. 

You  ever  were  too  subtle  for  my  brain. 

(Aside  to  Constant) 

But,  Constant,  for  once  you've  let  a  woman's  face 
Defeat  your  nobler  self  and  shame  your  will. 
You  would  not  let  me  stay,  but  you  have  stayed. 
Duke  Sigismund,  I  now  must  bid  farewell, 
I  have  taxed  your  patience.     Princess,  you  I  owe 
Deepest  amends  for  wild  and  insulting  words, 
And  that  you  have  let  me  speak  with  you  to-day 
And  even  offered  on  my  behalf  to  plead 
Shows  that  your  heart  is  of  Heaven,  not  of  earth. 
I  wish  you  peace. 

Sevna  I  have  no  cause  for  anger, 

You  meant  no  harm.     Farewell. 

Ivo  (to  Constant)  And  you,  old  friend  • 

Who  knows  what  fate's  to  come  ?     This  parting  here 
May  be  for  many  days,  and  when  again 
We  give  the  silent  clasp  of  brotherhood, 
It  may  be  only  as  a  last  farewell, 
When,  'mid  the  wreck  of  all  that  we  have  loved, 
We  pledge  our  faith  once  more,  and  go  to  death. 

Constant 

Ivo,  I'll  come. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  53 

Ivo  (nodding  almost  imperceptibly  at  Sevna) 

No,  stay;  fate  wills  it  thus. 
May  Heaven  guard  your  path  and  hers. 

Constant  Farewell. 

Exit  Ivo. 

Sevna 

He's  gone. 
Constant  drops  into  a  chair  and  buries  his  face  in  his  hands. 

Sigismund 

Lord  Constant,  I  have  some  affairs 
Demand  my  presence;  I  esteem  your  course 
In  seeking  to  repair  this  damage  done 
Most  worthy,  and  I  shall  be  honored  while 
You  stay  my  guest. 

Constant  My  deepest  thanks,  my  lord, 

I  cannot  but  accept  such  courtesy. 

Exit   Sigismund. 
Constant  approaches  Sevna  and  they  look  earnestly  at  each 

other. 
Sevna 

Prince  Ivo  loves  you ! 

Constant  Ay,  would  that  I  were 

A  little  worthy  of  the  love  he  bears  me. 

Sevna 

I  never  have  beheld  in  any  men 

Such  perfectness  of  loyalty  and  faith, 

Such  generous  friendship  and  such  true-hearted  love, 

As  you  and  he  possess. 


54  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

Constant  I  used  to  think 

I  loved  him  so,  but  now  I  have  broken  faith, 
I  have  sent  him  back  alone  and  I  stay  here 
Inactive,  while  he  bears  his  heavy  weight 
Without  the  help  and  strength  which  I  could  give. 

Sevna 

But  you  stay  here  for  noble  purposes ! 

Constant 

I  try  to  make  myself  believe  it.     Had 
He  left  in  anger  I  could  not  forgive 
Myself,  but  he  in  love  acquitted  me. 

Sevna 

I  do  not  understand. 

Constant  Do  you  not  see 

What  motive  lay  behind  the  plans  I  made 
To  keep  myself  here? 

Sevna  (drawing  back) 

No,  unless  - 
Constant  Unless 

I  stayed  because  I  could  not  bring  myself 

To  part  from  some  one  here. 

Sevna  You  must  not  speak 

Like  this. 

Constant       No,  but  I  must  speak  out. 
I  cannot  let  you  act  in  blindness  now 
And  then  disclose  what  led  me  thus  to  work 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  55 

Upon  you  and  persuade  you  to  my  will. 
And  yet  I  am  not  wholly  double-tongued, 
I  meant  each  word,  and  I  still  cherish  hope, 
For  all  our  sakes,  that  you  will  have  success 
And  close  this  breach.     Indeed  I  was  sincere. 
But  yet  what  led  me  to  contrive  this  course 
Was  that  it  suffered  me  to  stay  with  you. 
I  could  not  go,  my  princess. 

Sevna  Oh,  how  blind 

And  weak  I've  been!     You  pleaded  on  the  ground 
Of  friendship,  but  I  never  thought  your  words 
Had  greater  depth. 

Constant  And  last  night,  Sevna,  then 

Did  we  not  reach  the  depths  ?     Through  all  the  world 
We  two  have  sought  each  other,  and  at  last 
The  search  is  ended.     Shall  we  go  so  far 
For  love  and  then  refuse  it  when  we  find  ? 

Sevna  (slowly) 
I  do  not  love  you. 

Constant  Oh,  you  deceive  yourself. 

Last  night  as  your  heart  beat  against  my  own 
I  knew  that  love  had  triumphed,  and  now  will  you 
Draw  back  for  fear,  and  wreck  our  happiness  ? 

Sevna 

Lord  Constant,  you  have  heard  me  say: 

I  do  not  love  you.     Will  not  one  word  suffice  ? 

Henceforth  remember  that  between  our  lands 


56  PRINCE  IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

Is  bitter  enmity.     But  yet,  what  I 
Have  promised  to  Prince  Ivo  I  will  do, 
Go  to  the  king.     And  then  when  I  return 
In  failure,  as  it  will  be,  I  will  see 
You  have  safe  conduct  to  your  native  land. 
And  now  I  beg  you  go  and  leave  me  here. 

Constant 

As  you  command  me,  princess,  I  obey. 
But  have  you  no  other  word  for  me,  one  which 
I  may,  when  memories  of  last  night  return, 
Recall  to  know  that  what  I  hoped  and  felt 
Was  not  delusion  ? 

Sevna  No. 

Constant  No  ?     Then  adieu. 

Exit  Constant. 

Sevna  turns  and  gazes  into  the  fire. 
Sevna 

"  I  do  not  love  you,"  so  I  said  to  him. 

But  death,  will  your  approach  be  bitterer 

Than  this  constraint  which  makes  me  say  these  words  ? 

"  I  do  not  love  you,"   -  nay,  but  I  do  love, 

With  love  that  grips  my  heart  with  stifling  clutch 

When  I  resist  it.     I  would  throw  myself 

Within  those  arms  stretched  out  to  clasp  me  close  — 

To  throw  myself  and  then  forget  all  else, 

Lose  all  my  thoughts  in  one  deep  ecstasy! 

I  know  I  could  forget  within  those  arms, 

The  world  would  be  shut  out,  I'd  only  feel 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  57 

Myself  enfolded  in  that  guarding  clasp, 
And  all  his  strength  would  ever  hold  me  safe. 
How  weak  we  women  are !     Nothing  more  weak ! 
But  strength,  the  proudest  gift  God  gives  to  earth, 
The  strength  of  arm,  of  intellect,  of  will ! 
And  in  his  every  fiber  quivers  strength. 
And  yet  I  can  command  it;  how  he  begged 
A  word  from  me,  and  then,  when  I  refused, 
Went  broken  from  my  presence.     At  a  glance 
From  me  he'd  come  again,  and  I  could  sway 
Him  at  my  fancy.     His  pain  or  happiness 
Lie  in  my  power,  his  fear,  his  joy,  or  hope; 
And  if  I  chose  to  draw  him  to  my  feet, 
His  deepest,  fullest  homage  would  be  mine. 
But,  heart,  be  still.     Let  not  these  golden  dreams 
Torment  with  thoughts  of  that  which  cannot  be. 
1  am  the  daughter  of  a  king,  and  if 
My  duty  calls  me  to  forget  this  man 
Whose  rank  and  nation  sunder  him  so  far 
From  my  position,  I  too  can  be  strong, 
And  face  my  destiny  with  steady  eyes. 

Curtain 


ACT  IV 

Two  Weeks  Later. 
SCENE  1 

The  tower  of  Ottocar's  castle  at  sunset. 

Ottocar,  Ivo. 
Ottocar 

Then  in  this  war  which  now  is  being  raised 
Between  your  country  and  Bulgaria 
You  ask  me  as  an  ally,  with  the  pledge 
That  I  will  put  five  thousand  men  afield 
To  harass  proud  Budimir  as  on  his  march 
He  passes  through  these  mountains. 

Ivo  Yes,  and  think, 

Bulgaria  already  hates  you  much, 
And  while  her  troops  are  out  on  this  campaign 
She  will  not  let  the  fair  occasion  slip 
To  pay  old  scores  with  Ottocar  the  Black. 

Ottocar 

Bulgarian  cowards,  every  man  a  dog, 

If  they  come  hither,  by  Heaven  they'll  taste  the  sword ! 

Ivo 

They  shall !  with  Serbia  to  vex  their  flank 
And  us  in  front,  we'll  send  King  Budimir 
Back  faster  than  he  comes. 

58 


PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  59 

Ottocar  Oh,  I  should  like 

To  tread  him  in  the  dust.     He  caught  my  men, 
A  hundred  of  them  once,  and  on  the  spot 
He  butchered  them.     I  need  revenge  for  that. 

Ivo 

Together  we  will  have  it.     Out  with  swords ! 
Down  with  Bulgaria !     Up,  Ottocar, 
And  fair  Bohemia! 

Ottocar  Down  with  the  dogs! 

Excitedly  they  draw  swords  and  clash  them  together  in  the 


air. 


Ottocar  (cunningly) 

But  the  terms  ?     My  men  are  not  yet  under  arms. 
What  is  it  that  the  noble  king  your  father 
Bade  you  to  offer  when  he  sent  you  here  ? 

Ivo 

Pay  for  your  men  while  they  are  in  the  field, 

A  liberal  settlement  of  past  disputes, 

And  a  hundred  thousand  silver  marks  weighed  down. 

Besides,  he  asks  you  that  which  I  myself 

Most  keenly  wish,  that  you  will  give  to  me 

Your  daughter,  Lady  Kara,  as  my  wife, 

And  future  queen. 

Ottocar  I  liked  you,  prince,  at  once, 

When  I  heard  that  you  had  dared  to  risk  it  here 
And  throw  yourself  within  the  old  wolf's  fangs 
For  the  sake  of  her  fair  face.  'Twas  boldly  done, 


60  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Prince  Ivo,  and  by  Heaven  I  think  you  fit 

To  match  the  freest  blood  these  mountains  boast. 

Ivo 

Then  strike  alliance. 

Ottocar  Gladly  that  I  will. 

Here's  wishing  Kara  safe  upon  your  throne. 

Ivo 

Amen  to  that. 

Ottocar  Then  since  we've  made  our  terms, 

I  know  your  wish  —  so,  prince,  if  you  will  wait 
I'll  bid  my  daughter  come. 


For  this  my  thanks. 
Exit  Ottocar. 

Well,  Constant,  I  will  have  a  tale  for  you. 
You'll  see  that  there  can  be  diplomacy 
In  which  you  have  no  finger.     Oh,  I  hope 
I'll  find  him  home  again  when  I  return. 

Enter  Kara 
Kara 

Prince  Ivo. 

Ivo  Kara,  at  last!     But  three  short  weeks 

Have  lapsed  since  we  stood  here  that  fateful  night, 
And  yet  for  me  the  centuries  have  rolled 
An  endless  course  since  then;  for  these  long  days 
Have  kept  me  from  your  side  and  oft  it  seemed 
That  baleful  fortune  stood  across  the  path 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  61 

I  wished  to  follow,  the  path  that  led  to  you. 
But  yet  against  the  hindrances  of  fate, 
Against  ambition,  duty,  and  the  love 
I  owed  my  father,  I  have  set  my  will 
And  fought  my  way,  until  at  last  I  come, 
All  barriers  past,  to  claim  you  for  my  own. 

Kara 

My  father  tells  me  that  you  seek  your  queen 
Among  these  mountains;  surely  you  mistake. 
Can  these  wild  crags  and  wilder  race  bring  forth 
One  worthy  of  the  state  and  dignity, 
The  pomp  and  splendor  of  your  palaces  ? 
No,  go  your  way,  the  daughter  of  the  hills 
Is  all  too  simple,  too  unskilled  of  speech, 
To  suit  your  courtly  ways. 

Ivo  'Tis  you  mistake. 

I  come  not  here  to  offer  majesty 
Enthroned  above  all  lesser  rank  and  fame. 
My  crown  is  not  the  imperial  crown  of  Rome, 
Which  exalts  its  wearer  to  the  Pope's  own  height, 
The  Sword  of  God  on  earth.     I  ask  of  you 
To  be  a  warrior's  bride,  to  join  with  one 
Whose  kingdom,  hard  beset,  can  be  maintained 
By  desperate  courage  only.     You  will  know 
The  soldier's  camp,  the  stress  and  rush  of  war, 
The  life  of  struggle  in  the  open  air. 
And  together  we  will  beat  the  foemen  back 
And  on  their  downfall  raise  our  fame  so  high 
That  our  exploits  will  be  the  theme  for  song, 


62  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

Heroic  balladry,  that  shall  survive 

When  we  are  gone,  to  keep  our  memory  fresh 

And  strong  forever  in  men's  pulsing  hearts. 

Kara  (who  has  drawn  near  to  Ivo  and  laid  her  hand  on  his  arm, 

as  it  lies  along  the  battlements) 
How  brave  you  are,  and  on  your  face  those  scars 
Tell  stories  of  the  fights  of  former  days, 
Which  we  have  heard  of,  even  'mid  these  rocks. 

Ivo 

Old  fights  ?     Yes,  fortune  somehow  favored  me 

And  I've  escaped  from  many  a  bloody  field 

Where  better  men  have  fallen.     But  perhaps 

Some  day  the  luck  will  change.     Perhaps  even  now 

In  this  approaching  war  the  time  will  come 

When  I  am  called  to  lay  my  weapons  down 

And  go  unarmed  to  meet  the  last  stern  foe. 

The  chance  of  battle  ever  waits :  but  when 

It  falls,  I  would  not  go  unnerved  and  faint. 

I  want  to  hear  a  voice  that  bids :  be  strong ! 

I  want  to  feel  a  hand  that  lies  in  mine 

When  death  is  hard  upon  me.     For  my  queen 

I  wish  for  one  who  will  share  my  fate  with  me  [low. 

Though  the  storm  break  black  and  the  thunder-cloud  hang 

And  in  your  face  I  read  the  courage  high, 

The  nobility  of  spirit  and  the  faith 

Which  will  make  our  love  the  love  of  those  who  go 

Unfrightened  down  the  devious  path  of  life. 

Then,  Kara,  will  you  come  ?     I  offer  you, 

Instead  of  peace  and  quiet,  happy  days, 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  03 

A  future  perilous  and  full  of  doubt; 
But  with  it  —  love.     Come. 

Kara  Ivo,  yes,  I  come. 

Curtain 


SCENE  2 

Hall  in  Sigismund'' s  Palace  as  in  Act  III. 
Time,  the  same  as  in  Scene  1. 

Sigismund,  Servant. 
Sigismund 

Request  the  Princess  Sevna  to  come  here, 
And  Lord  Constant  also. 

Sevna  enters  first  and  goes  to  the  duke. 

Sigismund  Welcome,  my  dear  Sevna. 

Sevna 

Dear  uncle,  is  there  news  ? 

Sigismund  Yes,  news  has  come. 

But  wait. 

Enter  Constant 

Constant      I  am  at  your  service,  my  lord  duke. 
My  greetings,  Princess  Sevna. 
She  bows  reservedly  to  him. 

Sigismund  Welcome,  my  lord, 

I  am  glad  that  you  have  come. 

Constant  My  lord,   I  hope 

This  summons  means  that  the  state  of  my  affairs 


04  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Has  had  a  change,  for  I  regret  indeed 

Having  been  a  burden  and  a  care  to  you. 

And  for  these  days  that  you  have  sheltered  me 

Against  the  king,  I  am  most  beholden  to  you. 

But  now  I  hope  the  time  has  come  at  last 

When  either  I  am  free  to  go,  or  else 

I  had  better  yield  myself  a  prisoner 

And  disburden  you  of  this  unsought  for  weight. 

Sigismund 

My  lord,  you  are  my  guest,  who  came  in  peace, 
And  in  peace  you  shall  go  hence,  if  my  poor  strength 
Can  compass  it.     But  shortly  we  shall  know 
The  outcome  of  this  matter;  for  but  just  now 
There  came  a  message  to  me  from  the  king, 
Saying  his  preparations  all  are  made, 
And  that  to-morrow  he  will  take  the  field 
Against  Bohemia.     But  before  he  goes, 
He  will  settle  the  question  which  he  left  in  doubt, 
Of  your  affairs,  my  lord. 

Constant  I  am  glad  of  that. 

I  am  eating  my  soul  out  here. 

Sevna  (to  Sigismund)  This  room  is  cold. 

Where  is  my  Persian  shawl,  your  gift  to  me  ? 

Sigismund 

I'll  have  it  brought  at  once. 
He  summons  a  servant. 

The  princess*  shawl. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  65 

Constant  (who  has  looked  eagerly  around  the  room  and  found  a 

shawl) 
Is  this  the  one  you  wish  ? 

Sevna  No,  here  is  mine. 

She  takes  one  from  the  servant,  who  has  returned,  and  coldly 
rejects  the  one  Constant  offers. 

Sigismund 

And  regarding  you,  my  niece,  this  message  runs: 
Your  father  says  he  sees  no  ground  of  blame 
In  you  for  what  you  said;  that  he  was  wroth 
He  now  repents.     He  knows  you  love  him  well, 
And  that  you  pleaded  for  his  enemies 
Proves  not  you  love  them  more  than  him,  but  that 
With  woman's  softness  you  at  once  forgive 
Those  that  insult  you  worst.     And  hence  that  he 
May  show  his  love  to  you,  and,  ere  he  goes 
To  enter  on  the  hazards  of  the  war, 
May  make  full  reparation  for  his  wrath, 
And  receive  your  daughterly  obedience, 
He  comes  to-day  to  call  upon  us  here, 
And  by  his  presence  set  at  rest  the  points 
On  which  we've  waited. 

Sevna  You  have  good  news  indeed. 

Constant 

My  lord,  I  thank  you  for  your  courtesy, 
And  now  have  you  aught  else  to  say  to  me  ? 
If  not,  I  ask  your  leave  to  go.     The  king 


66  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Will  find  me  most  submissive  to  his  will. 
I  wait  his  judgment. 

Exit  Constant 

Sigismund  Sevna,  you  have  shown 

Great  wisdom  in  your  conduct  toward  this  lord. 
It  cannot  but  serve  to  calm  your  father's  mind 
When  he  shall  learn  how  you  have  held  aloof 
From  conversation  with  him. 

Sevna  I  have  tried, 

Dear  uncle,  to  show  myself  most  loyal 
And  to  act  on  what  I  knew  would  be  his  wish. 
But  you  can  never  know  how  these  long  days 
Of  cold  suspense,  with  my  father's  bitter  words 
Still  ringing  in  my  ears,  have  tried  my  faith. 
If  I  was  not  to  see  his  face  again 
As  he  had  threatened,  where  did  duty  lie  ? 
Oh,  fierce  rebellion  and  wrath  for  wrath  have  surged 
So  high  within  my  heart  of  late,  that  I 
Have  almost  wished  to  fling  him  back  his  scorn 
And  seek  a  refuge  in  Prince  Ivo's  camp. 
I  have  been  very  sad,  but  now  this  news 
Means,  I  am  sure,  all  will  be  well  again,  — 
As  well  as  it  can  ever  be  for  one 
Whose  heart  is  crushed  beneath  death's  heavy  clods 
Before  the  life  has  left  it. 

There  is  a  noise  and  footsteps  outside  and  then  the  king's 
voice  is  heard. 

King  Budimir  Ho,  Sigismund! 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  67 

Where  art  thou  ? 

He  enters,  followed  by  a  group  of  nobles.     Sevna  rushes  to 
him  and  falls  on  her  knees  before  him,  seizing  his  hand. 

Sevna  Father. 

King  Budimir  Up,  daughter,  up. 

I  am  the  one  who  begs  for  grace  to-day. 

Brother,  I  wish  you  health. 
Sigismund  My  liege. 

King  Budimir  My  lords, 

We  meet  in  private  here.     Wait  you  below. 

Exeunt  attending  lords. 

Has  the  princess  heard  my  message  ? 
Sigismund  Yes,  my  liege. 

King  Budimir 

Then,  Sevna,  all,  I  think,  is  understood. 
You  did  no  wrong,  I  spoke  too  hastily, 
But  yet  I  like  it  not  that  you  should  show 
This  easy  disposition  toward  the  men 
Who  piled  such  shame  and  insult  on  your  head. 
Why,  girl,  if  this  be  passed  by  unrevenged, 
Your  open  scorn  will  be  in  all  men's  mouths. 
And  so  on  your  account  I  make  this  war, 
That  all  the  world  may  know  that  Budimir 
Doth  hold  his  daughter's  honor  dear  as  life, 
And  takes  fierce  vengeance  on  her  enemies. 

Sevna 

Dear  father,  I  am  sorry  to  have  brought 
Such  trouble  to  our  land. 


68  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

King  Budimir  'Twas  not  your  fault. 

'Twas  due  to  these  accursed  Bohemians, 
May  they  rue  the  day.     And  now  this  one  that's  here, 
Have  you  held  him  safe  ? 

Sigismund  He  passed  his  word 

And  he  has  kept  it. 

King  Budimir  Good.     I  have  decided 

That  he  shall  live  until  this  war  is  done, 
And  then  if  I  return  with  full  success 
He  shall  die  with  Ivo. 

Sevna  Father ! 

Sigismund  But,  my  lord, 

He  is  my  guest,  my  honor  is  pledged  to  him 
That  he  shall  go  in  safety. 

King  Budimir  By  my  faith, 

I'll  have  no  more  of  this.     He  is  a  spy, 
A  cursed  spy,  who  lies  in  wait  to  plot 
Against  my  kingdom :  and  if  you  harbor  him, 
By  Heaven,  Sigismund,  you  share  his  guilt. 
I  care  not  who  you  are.     Within  this  realm 
I  am  the  ruler,  I,  and  no  one  else, 
Not  you.     And  if  you  shield  my  enemies 
You  shall  taste  my  wrath  like  any  common  dog. 
Will  you  obey  ? 

Sigismund  You  have  the  strength,  my  lord, 

And  I  must  yield,  though  it  disgrace  my  name. 


PRINCE  IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  69 

King  Budimir  (to  Sevna,  who  is  on  her  knees  in  tears  before  him) 
Now,  Sevna,  what  does  this  mean  ?     Are  you  mad  ? 
Are  you  beside  yourself  with  grief  for  one 
Whom  you  did  not  yet  know  three  weeks  ago  ? 
By  all  the  saints,  has  he  used  his  vile  craft  here  ? 
Has  this  arch-traitor  dared  to  win  your  soul  ? 

Sigismund 

My  lord,  my  lord,  speak  not  so  angrily. 
The  princess  has  not  spoke  a  word  to  him 
These  many  days.     Upon  my  faith  it's  true. 

King  Budimir 

Then  what  foul  fiend  has  entered  into  her  ? 
Speak,  girl;  speak  out,  I  say. 

Sevna  My  liege,  this  lord,  — 

I  gave  to  him  my  word,  —  I  promised  him 
Safe  conduct  to  his  land  if  he  would  stay. 
He  stayed  at  my  request.     I  needed  aid 
In  this  affair,  our  effort  after  peace. 
I  did  not  dare  to  go  to  you,  unless 
I  had  advice  and  encouragement  from  him. 
Duke  Sigismund  will  say  I  speak  the  truth. 
He  is  no  spy  nor  traitor;  he  but  stayed 
With  noble  purpose  and  sincere  intent 
To  win  from  you  an  opportunity 
For  Ivo  to  make  full  amends  for  all. 
He  is  my  guest  as  well  as  the  lord  duke's, 
And  if  you  make  me  violate  my  pledge, 
The  word  of  honor  that  I  gave  to  him, 


70  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

You  bring  on  me  an  infamy  far  worse 

Than  this  boy's  heedless  words  could  ever  cause. 

Father,  relent:  send  him  away,  I  beg 

For  my  life  and  honor  let  him  go  from  here. 

King  Budimir 

By  my  faith,  but  this  is  strange,  so  deeply  moved, 
And  yet  no  words  with  him.     I'll  not  believe  it. 
Then,  Sevna,  while  this  man  has  tarried  here, 
Have  you  been  having  frequent  speech  with  him  ? 

Sevna 

My  lord,  you  heard  my  uncle  say  but  now 
That  I  scarce  have  spoken  to  him.     It  is  true. 

King  Budimir 

No  letters  passed  between  you  ? 

Sevna  No,  not  one. 

King  Budimir 

Has  he  never  spoken  word  of  love  to  you  ? 

Sevna 

No  —  but  I  mean  —  that  is  — 

King  Budimir  Ha,  what  is  this  ? 

Sevna,  speak  plainly,  is  there  intrigue  here? 

Sevna 

Sire,  your  question  took  me  by  surprise, 
But  there  is  naught  to  hide.     This  noble  lord 
In  honor  told  to  me  his  love,  and  I  — 


PRINCE   IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  71 

King  Budimir 

And  do  you  love  him  ? 

Sovna  I  refused  to  let  him  speak, 

Not  once  have  I  allowed  myself  to  hear  him. 

King  Budimir 

You  do  not  answer  me:  I  ask  of  you, 
Do  you  love  this  Bohemian  or  not  ? 

Sevna 

Father,  why  must  you  goad  my  spirit  thus. 
Yes,  yes,  I  love  him.     I  care  not  who  knows. 
For  him  I've  suffered  till  my  soul  is  faint, 
Scourged  and  imprisoned  each  rebellious  thought, 
Sent  him  away  when  my  heart  was  hungering 
For  word,  for  sight,  for  touch  of  him.     And  now 
You  treat  me  as  the  meanest  of  your  slaves, 
Put  me  to  searching  questions,  doubt  my  word, 
Refuse  to  grant  one  thing  I  ask  of  you. 
So  now,  if  you  must  know,  then  have  the  truth, 
I  love  Lord  Constant  and  would  die  with  him, 
Rather  than  live  to  rule  Bulgaria. 

King  Budimir  turns  and  paces  up  and  down  across  the 
room.  Sevna  sinks  back  into  a  chair.  King  Budimir 
at  last  comes  and  stands  in  front  of  her  and  says  sternly 
but  without  anger. 

King  Budimir 

Sevna,  that  you  should  love  my  enemy, 
And  choose  him  over  me,  who  gave  you  life, 
Opens  a  gap  so  wide  between  us  two 


72  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

That  not  eternity  can  close  it  up. 

But  yet  you  are  my  daughter;  I  cannot 

Take  vengeance  on  you,  cannot  wish  you  pain. 

If  ever  I  have  crossed  your  will  it  was 

Because  I  sought  to  build  your  happiness, 

Which  my  clear  planning  could  more  surely  do 

Than  your  wild  and  wayward  fancies.     But  now  that  we 

Have  chosen  paths  that  lie  so  far  apart, 

'Twere  better  each  of  us  should  go  his  way, 

I  to  defend  the  honor  of  our  name, 

You  to  forget  yourself  in  this  man's  arms. 

I  have  no  hate  for  him,  he's  but  the  tool 

Of  Ivo,  and  if  your  honor's  pledged  to  him, 

If  'twas  you  that  bade  him  stay,  then  let  him  stay. 

You  cannot  go  to  join  our  enemies, 

But  if  he  chooses  to  stay  here  with  you 

And  swear  allegiance  to  Bulgaria, 

You  two  may  go  and  under  Sigismund 

Live  as  you  wish,  if  never  you  will  come 

To  bring  my  daughter's  memory  to  my  mind. 

You  shall  have  time  to  choose.     Do  you  and  he 

Stay  here  till  I  return  in  safety  home,  — 

Then,  Sevna,  speak.     But  if  you  choose  him  not, 

He  dies.     I  grant  no  middle  course.     My  lord, 

See  he  escapes  me  not.     And  now,  farewell. 

Exit  King  Budimir. 
Sigismund 

Sevna,  I  never  saw  your  father  thus. 
I  would  to  Heaven  these  Bohemians 
Had  never  come  to  cause  this  sad  dispute. 


PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  73 

However,  matters  might  have  come  out  worse, 
And  Providence  may  yet  set  all  aright. 
But  now,  Lord  Constant  has  not  yet  heard  his  fate, 
And  waits  for  the  decision.     I  will  send  him  here, 
That  you  may  tell  him  of  the  things  that  passed, 
And  then  with  him  determine  what  you  will. 
Is  this  accordant  to  your  wish  ? 

Sevna  Thanks,  uncle. 

Sigismund 

Then  I  will  call  him. 

Exit  Sigismund. 
A  few  moments  later  enter  Constant. 

Constant  Princess  Sevna,  the  duke 

Tells  me  the  king  has  now  announced  his  judgment, 
And  he  bade  me  come  to  you  that  at  your  lips 
I  might  learn  my  fate.     But  if  I  now  intrude, 
Speak,  and  my  presence  shall  not  vex  your  sight. 

Sevna 

No,  you  must  hear,  so  listen ;  but  if  my  words 

Can  hardly  tell  their  tale,  forgive,  I  pray. 

This  day  has  taxed  my  strength,  our  strife  was  bitter, 

And  I  am  very  weary. 

Constant  Then  why  speak? 

To-morrow  we  can  talk. 

Sevna  No,  better  now. 

But  first  of  all  let  me  set  right  one  point. 
If  in  these  recent  days  you  have  found  me  cold, 


74  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

'Twas  not  because  I  felt  displeased  at  you. 
Duty,  and  not  my  feeling,  ruled  my  course, 
And  in  calmer  times  we  might  have  met  as  friends. 

Constant 

Still  friends !     O  princess,  is  that  true  indeed  ? 
You  make  my  heart  far  lighter  than  it's  been 
These  many  days. 

Sevna  Yes,  true  indeed,  my  lord. 

But  on  the  news  I  bring  you  from  the  king, 
You  may  not  be  so  glad.     You  are  not  free. 
The  king  has  taken  pledge  from  Sigismund 
That  he  will  hold  you  here  a  prisoner, 
Till  the  war  is  over  and  he  himself  returns. 

Constant 

Not  free !  still  forced  to  pace  behind  the  bars 

While  Ivo  fights  outside  ?     O  I  had  hoped 

To  reach  the  front  and  there  in  some  wild  charge 

To  find  the  thrust  that  should  bring  forgetfulness, 

Since  life  and  memory  must  ever  be 

A  burden  and  a  pain. 

Sevna  Athirst  for  death  ? 

But  could  you  call  again  that  former  dream 
Which  one  night  threw  its  light  across  your  heart, 
A  dream  of  love  and  perfect  comradeship, 
Would  you  still  wish  to  die  ? 

Constant  What  do  you  mean  ? 

Princess,  you  madden  a  desperate  man  with  thoughts 
Beyond  endurance. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  75 

Sevna  Could  you  find  your  peace 

In  a  quiet  home  among  the  silent  hills, 
Far  from  war's  tumults  and  the  glare  of  courts  ? 
Never  return,  and  yet  be  happy  there? 

Constant 

Sevna,  Sevna,  is  there  indeed  a  hope  ? 
Dare  I  kneel  here  and  look  into  your  eyes 
And  say :  I  love  you  ? 

Sevna  Listen.     When   the   king 

Came  here,  he  swore  that  you  should  die, 
I  interceded,  then  arose  the  strife 
Betwixt  us;  and  he  heard  from  me,  that  I 
Would  rather  die  with  you  than  live  as  queen 
Of  all  his  realm.  — Yes,  Constant,  I  have  loved, 
Loved  from  the  first,  though  my  lips  spoke  otherwise.  — 
And  then,  although  he  said  he  never  wished 
To  look  on  me  again,  he  bade  us  go 
And  live  in  peace  in  Sigismund's  domains. 

Constant 

Dear  love,  then  you  renounce  your  rank,  your  throne, 
And  all  for  me  ? 

Sevna  I  pass  from  death,  to  live 

Where  life  is  sweetest. 

Constant  And  if  you  had  not  pleaded, 

My  life  was  doomed  ? 

Sevna  Yes,  only  when  he  learned 

My  love,  he  spared  your  life. 


76  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Constant  If  I  were  free 

To  ride  by  Ivo's  side  and  serve  my  king, 
My  honor  as  a  knight  would  rule  supreme 
Above  the  dearest  longing  of  my  heart. 
But  since  my  freedom  is  held  in  trust  by  you 
And  I  receive  it  only  as  your  gift, 
I  here  reconsecrate  to  you  my  life, 
Vowing  my  love,  my  true  and  loyal  faith 
Until  the  end.     (He  kisses  her.) 

Sevna  After  the  tempest  —  peace; 

After  the  struggle — rest;  after  the  search  — 
Thy  love. 

Constant      We  two  have  traveled  far  afield, 
But  love  is  worth  the  winning. 

Sevna  Worth  the  pain. 

Curtain 


ACT  V 

A  turret  chamber  in  King  Budimirs  palace,  poorly  furnished 
but  with  an  open  fire  burning. 

The  late  afternoon  of  a  day  three  months  later. 
Constant,  Sevna,  Captain  of  the  Guard. 

Captain 

Here  is  the  room  in  which  the  prince  is  lodged 
And  the  Princess  Kara,  but  at  present  they  are  free 
To  walk  on  the  parapets.     Shall  I  call  them  hither  ? 

Constant 

No,  shorten  not  their  last  look  at  God's  world. 
We  will  wait  their  coming. 

Captain  As  you  will.     I  stand 

Outside,  my  lord,  till  you  return. 

Constant  'Tis  good. 

Sevna,  my  heart  beats  slow  and  my  blood  is  cold, 
To  think  that  I  am  standing  in  the  room 
From  which  to-morrow  Ivo  goes  to  death. 
Before  this  moment  all  the  horror  of  it 
Had  never  reached  my  mind.     I  only  thought 
Of  him  the  hero,  fearless  and  debonair, 
Going  to  death,  no  matter  what  its  form, 

77 


78  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Like  a  reveler  bound  homeward  from  a  feast, 
Who  leaves  behind  the  wine,  the  lamps,  his  friends, 
And  steps  alone  into  the  black  of  night 
With  a  song  upon  his  lips.     For  Ivo  thus 
There's  more  of  pride  and  kindling  of  romance 
Than  tears  and  sorrow.     But  now  I  see  the  axe, 
The  block,  the  stroke,  and  then  the  headless  corpse! 

0  God,  to  think  that  Ivo  will  lie  there, 

Dead,  dead  forever,  torn  and  rent  and  bleeding, 
Never  again  to  speak,  to  move,  to  love! 

1  have  often  thought  of  death,  but  not  till  now 
Have  I  seen  its  fearfulness. 

Sevna  (coming  close  to  him)      You  now  can  know 
What  I  felt  when  I  heard  the  stern  decree 
That  you  must  perish :  all  this  and  tenfold  more 
Shot  over  me  when  I  pictured  you  as  dead. 

Constant  (drawing  away  from  her) 
O  Sevna,  even  now  my  heart  is  cleft. 
What  right  have  I  to  live  and  breathe  and  love 
When  Ivo  lies  in  death  ?     We  two  have  sworn 
That  we  would  ride  together  to  the  end. 
Now,  Ivo,  am  I  failing  you  ?     Am  I  afraid 
To  charge  with  you  to  the  press  of  the  last  hard  fight  ? 
Has  my  soul  been  bought  by  kisses  and  the  arms 
That  hold  me  fast  ?     Have  I  betrayed  my  faith  ? 

Sevna  (flinging  herself  upon  him  in  an  agony  of  apprehension) 
No,  no,  O  Constant,  remember  all  again; 
You  could  not  go  to  him.     You  have  not  failed. 


PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  79 

Your  will  was  tied,  you  were  a  prisoner, 
And  you  have  vowed  again  your  life  to  me. 
It  is  mine,  not  Ivo's. 

Constant  Yes,  love,  it  is  yours. 

What  need  to  search  again  these  painful  wounds  ? 

I  have  fought  the  question  out  through  sleepless  nights, 

Ivo  or  Sevna  ?  and  never  have  I  found 

The  point  of  honor  that  calls  me  from  your  side 

To  die  a  useless  death. 

Sevna  O  Constant,  Constant! 

How  could  you  even  dream  of  doing  this  ? 
'Twould  be  a  lesser  thing  to  you  to  die 
Than  for  me  to  live  and  face  the  weary  years 
When  you  had  gone  forever  from  my  life. 

Constant 

That  fear  is  ended  now,  my  choice  is  made. 
But  yet  the  deep  misgiving  will  not  rest : 
Because  it  is  harder,  is  it  not  the  rhrht  ? 

O 

For  from  many  struggles  I  have  learned  this  truth : 

In  time  of  doubt  the  harder  choice  is  best, 

Since  the  conflict  lies  between  the  thing  we  want 

And  that  higher  sense  that  bids  us  do  the  right, 

Though  life  seem  blasted.     But  though  we  seem  to  lose, 

Yet  through  the  insight  brought  by  later  days 

We  see  we  chose  the  way  that  led  to  peace. 

For  of  a  deed  or  word  that  we  call  good 

Has  never  man  repented,  but  the  ill 

He  oft  would  seek  to  wipe  out  with  his  blood. 


80  PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA 

Sevna 

Ah,  Constant,  how  you  have  enriched  my  life, 
Solved  my  perplexities,  dispelled  my  doubts! 
How  precious  hold  I  all  I've  learned  from  you ! 
And  even  if  God  should  take  you  from  me  now 
I  should  be  stronger  than  I  was  before, 
For  you  have  taught  me  where  to  find  the  light. 

Constant 

But  hush,  they  come. 

Enter  Ivo  and  Kara.  There  is  an  air  of  constraint  over  all. 
Ivo  and  Constant  come  forward  and  take  each  other's 
hands,  leaving  Sevna  and  Kara  in  the  background. 

Ivo  Well  Constant,  I  am  glad 

You  are  not  co-lodger  here. 

Constant  I  would   to  Heaven 

That  you  were  not  here,  Ivo. 

Ivo  Fate,  my  friend. 

My  star  was  never  lucky.     In  good  faith, 
If  after  a  battle  I  came  out  alive 
I  always  felt  I'd  had  my  share  of  luck, 
Without  a  thought  of  who  had  won  the  day. 
Or  rather,  say,  I  never  had  the  luck 
To  get  killed  in  battle. 

Constant  Ivo,  this  is  fearful. 

Would  I  were  hi  your  place. 

Ivo  That's  not  to  be. 

I've  run  my  course,  yours  lies  out  fair  ahead. 

There  is  a  short  pause.     Then  Constant  speaks  painfully. 


PRINCE  IVO  OF  BOHEMIA  81 

Constant 

You  gave  yourself,  I  hear,  to  save  your  land. 
The  nobility  that  you  have  always  showed 
Shone  out  in  that. 

Ivo  'Twas  plain  enough  to  do. 

King  Budimir  was  tired  of  the  siege, 
His  men  were  falling  faster  than  he  liked, 
And  the  Serbians  were  plundering  behind  him, 
So  he  proposed  to  arrange  the  terms  of  peace 
By  which  the  true  offender  should  pay  the  price 
And  the  innocent  not  suffer.     It's  Kara  here, 
Who  rather  chose  to  follow  me  to  death 
Than  stay  behind  and  live,  whom  you  should  praise. 

Constant  (going  to  Kara  and  about  to  kiss  her  hand) 
Permit  me  to  offer  my  obedience, 
My  princess. 

Kara  Touch  me  not,  Bulgarian. 

Constant  (springing  back) 
Who  dares  to  say  I'm  that? 

Kara  And  are  you  not? 

To-morrow  Ivo  goes  to  meet  his  death, 
A  hero's  death,  at  the  hand  of  one  whose  heart 
Is  black  with  pride  and  cruel  revengefulness. 
No,  Ivo,  I  care  not  who  hears,  the  world 
Should  hear,  if  my  voice  but  had  the  strength. 
He  dies,  and  you,  whose  place  should  be  beside  him, 
Go  straight  from  where  his  headless  body  lies 
To  kiss  his  murderer's  hand  and  swear  to  him 


82  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

Your  fealty  and  true  allegiance;  all 

That  you  may  wed  the  daughter  of  this  king 

Who  slays  the  man  who  loved  you,  honored  you; 

And  so  from  weakness  you  turn  renegade. 

Is  this  your  knightly  honor  ?  this  your  faith  ? 

O  how  could  Ivo,  whose  soul  is  like  the  stars, 

Ever  have  called  you  friend  ?     Bulgarian  — 

Do  you  scorn  the  name  ?     Then  why  do  you  make  it  yours  ? 

Conttant  (staggering  back  with  his  face  between  his  hands} 
Blind,  blind,  how  blind!   my  soul  has  played  me  false. 
A  thousand  arguments  have  proved  me  right, 
But  yet  within  my  heart  of  hearts  I  knew 
That  only  could  I  gain  my  liberty 
With  my  dishonor. 

The  Captain  of  the  Guards  enters  and  speaks  to  Constant. 

Captain  Sir,  your  time  has  lapsed. 

At  sunset,  by  the  king's  command,  these  doors 
Are  shut  and  locked  and  none  may  come  or  go. 

Constant  (drawing  his  sword  and  handing  it  to  the  Captain) 
Take  this  to  Budimir  and  say  to  him 
That  Lord  Constant  chooses  to  remain  behind, 
To  share  Prince  Ivo's  lot. 

Captain  The  princess,  then? 

Constant 

She  goes  alone.     Go,  Sevna.     Go  with  haste 
For  I  cannot  endure. 

He  goes  to  her  as  she  stands  helpless  under  the  shock  and 
gently  leads  her  away. 


PRINCE  IVO   OF  BOHEMIA  83 

Sevna  Is  this  farewell? 

Constant 

Ay,  Sevna,  till  we  meet  where  love  is  endless 
And  hate  and  death  are  powerless  to  harm. 
He  kisses  her. 

Sevna 

My  heart  had  warned  me  this  was  doomed  to  be. 
Our  love  was  never  made  to  find  on  earth 
The  stilling  of  its  restlessness.     Farewell. 
Eternal  peace  be  thine. 

She  withdraws  from  him  and  is  suddenly  gone.  Outside  is 
heard  the  shutting  of  the  gates  and  the  noise  of  draw 
ing  heavy  bolts.  All  stand  in  silence,  then  Kara  comes 
to  Ivo. 

Kara  The  hour  grows  late 

And  I  must  write.     Do  you  sit  here  and  talk, 
And  when  I've  done  I'll  come  again  to  you. 
Lord  Constant  of  Bohemia,  your  hand, 
True  knight  and  loyal  friend. 

Ivo  Come,   Constant,  come. 

We've  many  things  to  say  and  time  is  short. 
And  we  must  here  renew  the  comradeship 
Of  the  glorious  years  that  we  have  traveled  through. 
We've  many  a  tale  that  we  must  tell  to-night 
Before  we  know  each  other  as  of  old. 
When  every  thought  was  in  the  other's  keeping 
Almost  before  it  could  shape  itself  in  words. 
So,  Constant,  although  the  cup  that  we  must  drink 


84  PRINCE   IVO   OF  BOHEMIA 

To-morrow  is  not  the  one  we  used  to  quaff, 

Let's  take  it  in  the  old  true-hearted  way, 

Face  to  face,  hand  in  hand,  and  the  pledge  upon  our  lips, 

Regretting  not  the  past  we  cannot  help, 

And  without  a  fear  of  the  future  that's  to  be. 

While  Ivo  is  speaking  he  draws  Constant  to  a  chair  before 

the  fire  and  the  curtain  goes  down  upon  the  two  men 

sitting  there  together. 


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